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trin's review against another edition
3.0
Scraps. This didn't need to be a book, except that Joan Didion ephemera is still full of phenomenal sentences, sharp and potent observations.
This book filled me with a longing for the road, and for a probably wholly imaginary, romanticized vision of a slower, more dignified, lost past. Simultaneously, it filled me with horror for the shocking, vilely racist reality of the actual past--both are somehow present in this book.
I shudder to think about which I would find more of if I went on a similar trip through the South today.
This book filled me with a longing for the road, and for a probably wholly imaginary, romanticized vision of a slower, more dignified, lost past. Simultaneously, it filled me with horror for the shocking, vilely racist reality of the actual past--both are somehow present in this book.
I shudder to think about which I would find more of if I went on a similar trip through the South today.
ardenannphillips's review against another edition
4.0
The American south sounds like hell by Didion’s writing about it does not
andotherworlds's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 // Didion has such a powerful way with words which is clear in her effortless poignance found in brevity.
poppyedition's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
bmarchman's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
A short but still excellent set of observations on the South from one of my favorite authors. I have had a passing interest in the American South thanks to some very good friends from the Gulf and other parts that have introduced me to what the region has to offer.
I do wonder why this book was released since it is far more sketches and impressions rather than solid continuous prose, but I still found Didion’s writing and thoughts, as always, to be original and captivating. I do think that her notes on California at the end of the book does little to add to what I think is a solid set of material on the South.
I do wonder why this book was released since it is far more sketches and impressions rather than solid continuous prose, but I still found Didion’s writing and thoughts, as always, to be original and captivating. I do think that her notes on California at the end of the book does little to add to what I think is a solid set of material on the South.
bookwookie's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.5
This is my second time reading this book, and I definitely enjoyed it much more than the first time. It’s scary to read Didion’s thoughts on the south that have become relevant today. I really really enjoyed it, but I feel like the ending part where she talks about California felt a little out of place, and I was hoping it would also be a discussion of places, but oh well.